Page 16

“F uck!” I hiss, spinning around and pushing Hunter toward the pool as I shove the emerald down the front of my swim shorts. “Go!”

I palm my switchblade as we both hurry down the steps into the water, then pull in a deep breath and dive for the tunnel.

Beneath the water, the sound of the alarm dulls and I wonder what the hell happened.

Ryder said he disconnected the alarm, but Torres must’ve had a backup installed. Maybe something that ran on a battery.

It’s fucking Colombia all over again. And I’m really starting to hate this guy.

By the time we reach the other pool, the alarm has been turned off, but I can see concerned guests through the glass bottom. People are wondering what the hell is going on, and if this turns out anything like South America, Torres is going to lock the mansion down.

We need an exit plan. Fast.

Climbing out of the pool, we grab our robes and slip them on. No one is up here yet and I look around, trying to determine the best course of action.

“What now?” Hunter asks.

Before I can answer, a couple of guards storm up the steps. “Don’t move!” one shouts.

I glance over at Hunter. “How’re your fighting skills, Pyro?”

“Excellent,” she assures me.

I grin, not at all surprised. “I’ll take the bigger guy.”

“Roger that.”

Her confidence turns me on big-time, and I quickly learn she has the skills to back it up.

We spin to face our adversaries and drop into a fighting stance.

I’ve learned a lot of tricks from Deck, who is a certified badass when it comes to fighting.

Not even joking—he fought professionally in the cage for five years, and we spar together all the time.

After throwing a few punches and dodging some more, I manage to hit my opponent in his jaw. When he stumbles sideways, I take full advantage and shove him hard toward the pool. He falls into the water with a splash and a high-pitched girly shout. Guess he had no plans on swimming tonight.

I’m about to help Hunter, but I see she has it handled.

A smile curves my mouth as she ducks the man’s fist then launches her leg out in a perfectly-executed spinning back kick, catching him square in the chest. He grunts, falls backward and lands in the pool beside the other guard. Damn, she’s good.

“C’mon,” she urges me, running away from the pool.

I follow, catching up, and we race down the staircase to the ground floor. Most of the guests are inside and I see security moving around in there, so I tug Hunter sideways, off the edge of the patio and through the bushes.

Avoiding the garden’s lit pathways, we race for the wooded area on the side of the property.

Then we stick to the tree line, making our way down the dark golf course.

The moon is bright, but our black robes help us to blend into the darkness.

Back at the house, several guards appear, stepping off the patio, and searching the garden with flashlights.

“We’re okay,” I assure her. Even so, I keep checking over my shoulder.

“Oh, thank God,” she murmurs. We’re walking fast and she lays a hand over her heart. “That was too close.”

I couldn’t agree more and touch my comms. “We’re out,” I report as we hurry forward and past an empty helipad.

“The alarm connected to the case must’ve been on a separate circuit,” Hunter states. “Or, it had a battery backup.”

“Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking, too.”

“Location?” Addie asks.

“The golf course behind the house. In the treeline.”

“Keep walking straight through and we’ll pick you up along the southern edge of the property,” Addie says.

“Roger that,” I say, mimicking Hunter’s military response. Normally, I’d say “copy,” but I guess she’s rubbing off on me. And I’m enjoying it thoroughly. However, I am not enjoying the big, hard gemstone that’s beginning to chafe my privates. “Uh, can we stop really quick?”

Hunter tosses me a questioning look but keeps walking. “We need to keep going.”

“Just gimme a sec.” I stop walking, open my robe and reach into my swim shorts to pluck the emerald out. Tucking it in the robe’s pocket, I grin at her wide-eyed expression. “Okay, much better.”

Even though it’s dark, I swear she blushes. We start walking again, the clamor of the guests fading in the distance until all I hear is the sound of chirping crickets.

“Are all your heists this exciting?” she asks.

“No. This one went a little off the rails,” I admit. “Sorry about that.”

“You’re lucky I enjoy a good adventure.” She sends me a sexy smile that makes my balls tighten. I can’t stop thinking about how good her wet body felt plastered against mine, the way she leaned into me when we kissed before grabbing the emerald.

Maybe I shouldn’t say what I’m about to, but fuck it.

“You enjoyed that kiss, too, didn’t you?”

She slows down but doesn’t answer me. Instead, she pulls her robe tighter and a shiver racks her slim body.

“Cold?” I ask, instantly concerned. We had to leave our clothes in the cabanas, and I glance down to see her bare, red-polished toes moving through the dew-covered grass. “We’ll get the heat going and warm you up in the car.”

She stops walking, turning to face me. “I can think of another way. Because, yeah, I enjoyed it. Thoroughly.”

My heart thumps madly and I step closer. “Really?” She looks up at me through her lashes, and I take her soft face in my hands, gently trailing my thumbs over her cheeks. “Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?”

Her face tilts up to mine, awash in silver moonlight, and before she can comment, I capture her lips in a long, sensual kiss.

Our mouths meld, tongues sliding against each other.

Meeting, retreating, tasting again. As the kiss deepens, she presses her body against mine and I relish the feel of every curve.

Curves I want to explore much more thoroughly.

“Where are you, Knox?” Addie’s voice blares through our earpieces and we reluctantly pull away, ending the perfect kiss.

“Almost there,” I respond in a raspy voice, lacing my fingers through Hunter’s. Neither of us says another word as we make our way across the rest of the golf course. I help her through the hedges and we climb into one of the waiting SUVs.

“You got it?” Addie asks.

I reach into the robe’s pocket and pluck out the emerald, lifting it up. “I got it.”

“Good job. Both of you.”

I look at Hunter, my attention dropping to her kiss-swollen lips, having every intention of kissing her in other places, too.

“As soon as we get back, we have a call with The Man,” Addie says.

My hopes for more sexy times with Hunter deflate. Hopefully, the call won’t last long, because I have things I want to do with her. So many delicious things.

∞∞∞

The call goes better than expected, and The Man wants us to lay low until morning. We don’t want to draw any unnecessary attention by making a hasty exit. So, we’ll remain at his villa until things cool off a bit. And he is getting no argument from me.

I can’t stop eye-fucking Hunter and, I swear, she’s reciprocating each heated glance. But I know she could still run from me, and that’s the last thing I want. After the call, she talks to Addie about leaving early in one of the SUVs to prepare the jet for our departure, and Addie approves.

The second they’re done, I grab her hand and tug her closer.

“Are you still opposed to the idea of having dinner with me?” I lift her hand and brush a kiss along her knuckles.

Instead of rebuffing me like I’m half-scared she’ll do, she flushes prettily and shakes her head.

“So, you’ll go on a date with me?”

“Sure,” she says slowly.

“Great. Give me twenty minutes.”

She blinks. “You want to go on a date tonight? I thought we’re supposed to lay low.”

“We’ll do it on the back patio.” I can’t help the wicked grin that curves my mouth. “The date, I mean. Me, you, a pizza, some wine and the stars.”

“Okay,” she whispers.

I reluctantly release her hand and watch her walk away, missing that tiny, red bikini. But her hair is still down, long and loose, and I can’t wait to run my fingers through it. She tosses me one last look over her shoulder before disappearing down the hall to her room.

Go-time.

I head straight to the kitchen and pull out the frozen pizza I saw earlier.

Not exactly gourmet, but I don’t have time to cook much else.

I doctor it up with some fresh basil I pluck from a pot outside, add extra mozzarella cheese and drizzle a dash of olive oil.

There’s a bottle of red wine in the cabinet which I uncork and then fill two glasses.

In less than twenty minutes, I place everything on a tray and carefully carry it down to the back patio. Some of my crew are hanging out between there and here, and I steel myself for the comments I know they’re about to sling.

“Well, well, well.” Ryder pauses clicking through TV stations, his voice full of amusement. “What’re you up to, Casanova? Got a hot date?”

“Actually, yeah, so stay away.”

Deck looks up from the book he’s reading and frowns. “Don’t get involved, man. Do not do it.”

I brush his warning off and continue walking. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Women are nothing but trouble,” Deck grunts. I’m not sure what female put that bug up his ass, but I disagree. Women are amazing creatures. And the one I’m about to have dinner with? She’s the most spectacular one of all.

They can tease all they want. I don’t care. Hunter intrigues me, and I plan to get to know her better tonight.

After carefully setting everything up on the glass table, I light a few candles and pull up a jazz playlist on my phone.

I’m so freaking pumped to spend some time with Hunter.

She said yes to this little date and my body is vibrating with so much excited energy, I can barely contain it.

Endorphins are pumping through my system, my favorite song is playing, and all I can do is dance.

There’s no stopping me. My body moves to the beat, and I channel my inner samba, moving forwards and backwards, rolling my hips to the beat.

When a throat clears, I turn to see Hunter standing there, and I smile. She exchanged her loungewear for a little swing dress and flip flops. And she looks gorgeous.

“I figured I’d wear my dress since it’s a date and all.” She sends me a shy smile that ignites something inside me. Electric sparks sizzle through my body and I samba my way over, my gaze sliding down her curves, pausing on her bare legs, then continuing down to those small, polished toenails.

“You look lovely.”

“Thanks.”

I reach for her. “Dance with me,” I say, but she shakes her head.

“No, I can’t—”

“Can’t dance? C’mon, it’s easy. Just move your hips to the beat.” But she hesitates. “May I?”

I lift my hands, letting them hover over her hips, and when she slowly nods, I allow them to drop. Holding onto her, I guide her hips back and forth, and we find a rhythm, completely in sync with each other and the music.

“You’re a great dancer,” I tell her, sending her a megawatt smile.

I’m not sure what snaps her out of the moment, but she pulls away. “Hardly,” she scoffs with a forced laugh. I hate that she pulls away, but I’m not going to let it disappoint me. The night is just beginning, and I’m on a mission to figure her out.

Baby steps, I remind myself.

Her attention drops to the table spread. “Wow, how did you do all this so fast?”

“You inspired me.” We sit down and I hand her a glass of wine. “Thanks for agreeing to have dinner with me. Normally, I don’t have to ask twice.”

Cocky? Maybe. But it’s true.

“I’m sure all the ladies eagerly wait for an invite,” she teases and clinks her glass against mine. “Should I feel special?”

“You are special,” I answer without missing a beat.

She scoffs. “You have a line for everything, don’t you?”

“It’s not a line.”

“If you say so.” Her attention drops to the pizza. “That looks good.”

“I wish I could’ve taken you somewhere a little more fancy than the patio, but hopefully it’s not too bad.”

For a moment she doesn’t say anything. Just looks around at the dinner, wine, candles, then finally at me. “It’s very nice. Thank you, Knox.”

“You’re welcome.” I brush her hair back over her shoulder, my fingers grazing her arm. A tingle zaps through me. “If you haven’t noticed, I like you. A lot.”

“I’m sure you say that to all the girls.”

She’s brushing me off, and I don’t like it. Reaching over, I grab her chin, forcing her to look at me. “No, I don’t. Honestly, Hunter, I don’t remember the last woman I actively pursued.”

She inhales swiftly.

“You’re definitely giving me a run for my money,” I acknowledge, brushing my thumb over her lower lip.

“Good,” she whispers. “It shouldn’t always be so easy for you.”

“Sweets, you are anything but easy.” Her brow pinches together. “And I mean that in the best possible way.”